I've known a lot of really good bass fishermen over the years.
My Dad: He's the big bass king. When dad and I go fishing, I can fish circles around him all day or week long. On a regular basis, I out catch him 2 to 1 or better, but I can always count on that "Get the Net" from him. I don't know how many times I've caught 20 fish and he's caught 5 but 1 of his was 8 lb or better. He just kinda fishes and fishes, and you turn around and on the end of his line is the big fish of the day.
Rex Huff: Rex is about my age, and could compete with the best. He finished 2nd in the first M1 tourney, but chooses not to tour because of business and family obligations. Trust me, he could hit the road on the top 150 any day he chose to.
Finley Murphy, Mike Boggs, Tony Jackson, Robert Ballou, Terry Disney, Joel Wells and more are some of the better locals in this area. They could tour as well and would do well. IMO, it takes a special person with a special set of personal circumstances to hit the road on the BASS or FLW tour. They aren't necessarily the best fishermen, just ones who have the opportunity.
My vote for the best all time fisherman I have known is going to go to a man who's now deceased by the name of Carl Morton. The guy loved fishing. The last week that he was alive, I saw his truck parked by the river. I'd say the bass that man caught out of the Cumberland river wouldn't fit in the bed of a tri-axle coal truck. Carl taught me a lot about that old river.
Skipper
